BROWN TROUT: A MAGNIFICENT AND DIFFICULT FISH TO CATCH

The brown trout is a native fish to Europe. The brown trout has become a favorite of fly fishermen all over the world. The species is less tolerant of warm water than the rainbow trout, but, because it persists in streams more than native species, where the habitat is favorable it enjoys a reputation for being able to resist environmental change. It is ordinarily a difficult fish to catch when compared to the rainbow trout and brook trout. In streams that have been known to have an abundance of brown trout, anglers have only caught a few. In Maine, the ratio was one brown trout caught for every five brook trout netted. Probably because the fish is so difficult to catch, some individuals live to become quite large and feed upon young trout.

The body of the brown trout is usually 4 ½ to 5 times as long as it is deep. All fins are soft rayed with the dorsal fin having 10 to 13 rays and the anal fin having 9 or 10 rays. This trout is generally golden brown in color with large brown or black spots on it’s side, back and dorsal fin. These spots are usually surrounded by halos of a lighter shad of the body. A lesser number of red or orange spots are generally evident along the lateral surface. The dorsal and adipose fins are often fringed or spotted with bright orange or red. The belly is dusky yellow but may be creamy white on small stream born trout. The tail which is slightly forked in younger trout but nearly square in adult trout, is yellowish brown and may be indistinctly spotted near it’s borders. The pectoral, ventral and anal fins are yellowish brown and not spotted. The vomerine teeth are the most useful character in distinguishing the brown trout from the landlocked salmon.. In brown trout these teeth are well developed in the form of a double zigzag row on the vomer. The vomer teeth of the salmon are poorly developed and in a single row. Brown trout found in the large lakes of New York, New Hampshire and Maine as well as sea run populations, may otherwise resemble landlocked salmon in that they become very silvery in color and are spotted black.

The brown trout is slightly less tolerant of warm water than the rainbow trout. However, there are frequent exceptions to the rule for both species, depending on the strain of fish and the rate of temperature change. Brown trout have been known to reach weight of 40 lbs. but fish of 10 lbs. are considered to be exceptional in most areas. In local waters the size of the brown trout found in local ponds and streams is quite a bit smaller.

FOOD

The brown trout feeds on both aquatic and terrestrial insects. It also eats mollusks, crayfish and other fish. Large fish will feed on frogs, birds, mice and other small mammals, however these food forms are not part of their regular diet. The brown trout forages freely on the surface when mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies are emerging and at this time the brown trout becomes a significant quarry for fly fishermen. The brown trout is very active during the night time hours and many of the largest browns have been caught after dark, especially during the summer months. This preference for nocturnal feeding is universal and is highly developed in sea-run browns rather than nonmigratory strains. Local fishing is generally put and take with brown trout included in stocking conducted by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife each spring. Generally trout ponds will receive some brown trout, the numbers determined by the availability of fish from hatcheries.

SPAWNING HABITS

Brown trout may spawn during the fall or early winter depending on the location. The eggs are deposited in shallow redds in the gravel of the stream bottom. In lake habitat, the trout will seek a tributary stream for breeding, however, if none are available, the trout will deposit her eggs in the bottom rubble found near the shoreline. After fertilization the female will cover the eggs with fine gravel and the young will hatch out the following spring.

Among sea-run populations the young brown trout migrate downstream in the spring after two to as many as six years in fresh water. Sea trout will normally spend three summers in salt water before the mature trout returns to fresh water to spawn. Brown trout will generally mature at the end of their second or third year and will live from 7 to 12 years. The oldest brown trout on record was 18 years of age.

FLY-FISHING FOR BROWN TROUT

The brown trout is considered to be the most difficult trout to take on a fly. It is primarily the target of the experienced angler who seeks the brown trout with dry flies. Because the brown trout commonly feeds in the relatively quiet pools and runs of clear rivers and are inherently cautious, the fly fisherman must be skillful and gain an understanding of the trout before he can become consistent in catching the brown trout.

On visible rises, the dry fly is presented to the fish, which may of course take fright at once and rush off to it’s shelter. The trout may drop downstream to quietly inspect the a drifting fly before moving away, or it may just drop to t he bottom and cease feeding. However, if the trout ignores the fly and makes no movement away from it or make some movement towards it, the fish becomes a potential target. Sometimes a change of pattern but more often a change in size will encourage the trout to take a second look and rise to the offering in a confident strike. As a rule of thumb, on clear water bodies of water the expert will favor flies in size 14 but will frequently use sizes 16 and 18. Most fishermen have a tendency to fish flies that are too big. Low impact sparsely tied winged patterns that create little disturbance when they drop to the water are preferred by the experienced angler trying ti entice brown trout.

POPULAR BROWN TROUT PATTERNS

Some of the most popular fly patterns used to entice the brown trout include the Quill Gorden, the March Brown, the Blue Dun Spider, the Cream Variant, the Hendrickson, the Adams, the Royal Coachman, the Light Cahill and the Dark Cahill. These patterns will take brook and rainbow trout as well but they are especially effective on brown trout. Large brown trout have a tendency to become almost wholly piscivorous, the streamer fly and bucktail patterns are of regional value.

Night crawlers, angleworms, minnows and insect baits such as the grasshopper and hellgrammite are widely used in streams and lakes. Spinners, spoons and occasionally small plugs are used in casting and trolling with pretty good results. This is truly a magnificent fish.